Astra Model 900

The Astra Model 900 is one of many Spanish copies of the German Mauser C96 semi-automatic pistol. It shares the same caliber, magazine capacity, and holster type and is generally very similar to the German handgun.

Astra Model 900
An Astra 903 pistol.
TypeSemi-automatic pistol
Machine pistol (Astra Model 904)
Place of originKingdom of Spain
Service history
In service1927–1945
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
ManufacturerAstra-Unceta y Cia SA
No. built35,076 (all versions)
Variants900, 901, 902, 903, 904
Specifications
Mass1.275 kg (Astra 903)
Length308 mm (Astra 903)
Barrel length160 mm (Astra 903)
Height150 mm (Astra 903)
Cartridge7.63×25mm Mauser
9mm Largo
Caliber7.63mm
9mm
Muzzle velocity461.28 m/s (1,513.4 ft/s)
Maximum firing range1,000 m (1,100 yd)
Feed system10, 20 round box magazine
SightsIron

History

The Spanish gunmaker Astra-Unceta y Cia began producing a copy of the Mauser C.96 in 1927[1] that was externally similar to the C96 (including the presence of a detachable shoulder stock/holster) but with non-interlocking internal parts. It was produced until 1941, with a production hiatus in 1937 and 1938, and a final batch assembled from spare parts in 1951.[2]

The Spanish copies of the C96 were generally intended for export to China,[2] but after the commencement of the Sino-Japanese war, the remaining Astra 900s were used in the Spanish Civil War, and numbers were also sold to Germany in the period 1940–1943.[2]

Design

The Basque-manufactured Astra-Unceta y Cia SA Astra 901 is a compact machine pistol, with a magazine capacity of 10 7.63×25mm Mauser cartridges, which is a considerably smaller capacity than is standard for a machine pistol. The next model, the Astra 902, was provided with a fixed magazine of 20 cartridges and a lengthened barrel, and Astra 903 had a removable magazine instead of the usual fixed one. Astra later added a mechanism to slow the rate of fire and make the gun more manageable (to an extent) when being fired on full-auto or burst modes, calling this the Model 904.

The Model 904 is comparable to the German Mauser M712 'Schnellfeuer' Broomhandle pistols, having a detachable magazine, automatic fire capabilities, and general appearance.

The Astra Model 904 was produced in a 9 mm Largo variant, the Astra Model 904E, which was identical to the Model 904 in all other respects.

Production and distribution

The following models were made by Astra:[1][3]

Astra 900 with shoulder stock.
  • Astra 900: 21,000 weapons from 1927 to 1941 for China, Latin America, Spanish Republicans, and the Wehrmacht (1,050 delivered in 1943).
  • Astra 901: 1,655 weapons in 1928, destined mainly for China.
  • Astra 902: 7,075 weapons in 1928 to 1933. Some delivered to China, others delivered to the Wehrmacht in 1943.
  • Astra 903: 3,082 weapons in 1932 to 1934. Same users as the 902.
  • Astra 904: 90+ weapons in 1934.
  • Astra F: 1,126 weapons in 1936. Issued to the Guardia Civil during Spanish Civil War.
  • Astra E: 548 weapons assembled between 1949, 1951 and 1961 from stored parts. Reserved for export to Egypt, India, Iraq and Pakistan.
  • 8 × Astra 900, 12 × Astra 902, and 9 × Astra 400, all richly engraved, were presented to Joseph Stalin during the Spanish Civil War in 1937.

Users

References
  1. "Astra automatic pistols: Astra 900, Astra 901, Astra 902, Astra 903, Astra F (Spain)". 13 March 2021.
  2. "Spanish Guns". 1896mauser.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
  3. "Astra Model 900". 28 September 2016.
  4. Philip Jowett (2005). The Chinese Army 1937–49: World War II and Civil War. Osprey Publishing. pp. 22, 43. ISBN 978-1841769042.
  5. Antaris, Leonardo (1988). Astra Automatic Pistols (1st ed.). FIRAC Pub. Co. p. 150. ISBN 0962076708.
  6. "The Armoury".
  7. "Astra Model F (Video)". 4 November 2016.
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